Headlands School
Bridlington, YO16 6UR · East Riding of Yorkshire · secondary school
Check the area around this school
17th of 18 secondary schools in East Riding of Yorkshire we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 3.4/10 against 566 of them, against 2.2/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 10 | 35% | 0.36 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 34.1 · 23 | 30% | 0.68 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.35 · 24 | 25% | 0.60 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 38.5 · 14 | 10% | 0.14 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Headlands School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 35.6% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 39.6, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.35 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (4.2 out of 10 against similar schools, 2.6 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted inspected the school in May 2026 under the new report-card framework, which grades each area separately and gives no overall grade.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils visit the York Designer Outlet, ice skating rink, cinema, bowling alley, and North Yorkshire Water Park.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,057 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,482. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils to close the gap between their current attainment and the national median? What specific steps are taken to improve progress scores for students starting from similar backgrounds?
What Ofsted said about Headlands School
Overview
Headlands School provides an education where leaders have constructed a “broad and logically ordered curriculum” and foster a “calm and supportive” environment. While pupils feel well cared for and staff demonstrate high expectations, the report notes that attainment has historically been below national averages and attendance remains a concern. Leaders are actively working to address these challenges, with improvements in teaching and attendance systems beginning to show impact.
Strengths
- Leaders have created a curriculum with “thoughtful adaptations” ensuring pupils facing barriers can access learning alongside peers.
- Staff provide “effective support” for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities, including dedicated resource centres for autism and social, emotional and mental health needs.
- The school offers a “well-thought-out personal development programme” covering health, relationships, and British values, alongside a wide range of extra-curricular activities.
- Pupils feel safe and supported, knowing staff are available to help, and bullying is described as “rare” and dealt with quickly.
- Governors provide “effective support and challenge” to leaders, who remain committed to serving the diverse pupil population.
Areas to improve
- Leaders must ensure staff “identify and address gaps and misconceptions in pupils’ learning” so pupils build secure knowledge and skills.
- Leaders should ensure renewed approaches to attendance have the intended impact, taking “swift action” particularly for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities who are persistently absent.
- Leaders need to continue improving teaching to address the fact that many pupils still have “significant gaps in their knowledge” affecting their preparation for next steps.
Safeguarding
The safeguarding standards are met, with leaders establishing an “open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility” and concerns are actively identified and managed.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 40.3 |
| 2024/25 | 39.6 |
| 2025/26 | 38.5 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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